Youth Engagement
Opportunities for Solano High School Youth
Sustainable Solano has grown our youth engagement across our various programs, including new Fellowships and internship opportunities for Solano high school students. This page outlines the upcoming opportunities and training sessions.
High school students must participate in one of the certification sessions offered in-person or online before starting a Sustainable Solano internship. These engaging certification sessions explore environmental challenges at a global, community and individual level, bringing the discussion to bear on youth leadership and engagement around environmental justice. Certification sessions are free to attend and open to any Solano high school student, and are listed on the right side of the page. Students can attend a certification session even if they are not ready to apply for an internship.
After participating in an internship, students are invited to join the Youth Leadership Council to connect with other students and continue shaping outreach within their communities.
Students interested in internships should fill out this application form.
Questions? Contact Allison Nagel at allison@sustainablesolano.org
Scroll down or use the links below to learn more about each internship opportunity.
Community Resilience
Urban Ag & Gardens
Youth Cooking/Local Food
Community Resilience
Youth Air Protectors
Location: Fairfield
Commitment: 20 weeks starting Sept. 7
Stipend: $200 monthly
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but will close once the cohort begins
Air Protectors will research the air quality challenges for their communities, create outreach campaigns and support community-based projects centered around air quality, including air sensor installation and air quality mitigation projects. This cohort of the Youth Air Protectors will connect with residents, participate in hands-on beautification projects, including tree planting, and help in the creation of a community action plan. Additionally, participants will help to conduct general outreach regarding air quality issues in Fairfield. Because of the level of commitment required by this program, including weekly meetings and weekend projects, students receive a higher stipend than in some other SuSol internships.
Weekly meetings will rotate between in-person at the Fairfield Civic Center Library and online. Meetings are 5-6 pm Thursdays.
(This program includes the certification material as part of the schedule.)
Urban Ag & Gardens
Sustainable Garden Internships
Location: Vallejo
Commitment: 8 weeks starting April 6
Stipend: $150 monthly
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but will close on April 1
Interns will learn basic permaculture principles with an emphasis on waterwise gardening, and engage with community members to increase the impact of Vallejo’s community gardens. They will cultivate connections with each other and the land, and help with community garden maintenance. Priority will be given to Vallejo residents, but applications are open to all Solano County high school students.
Youth Cooking/Local Food
Local Food Cooking & Outreach Internships
Location: Various locations throughout the county
Commitment: 8 weeks (The next session start date will be announced in late May)
Stipend: $150 monthly
Application deadline: Applications are open
Interns will learn about the larger local food system, Solano farmers operating within that
system, and how to prepare healthy, seasonal produce. They will learn how to teach others about Solano-grown specialty crops (fruit, vegetables, nuts and herbs). They will design a creative message about specialty crops that will be shared with young audiences and the wider public, and teach one or two simple classes to either their peers or a younger audience.
Certification Sessions
High school students must participate in one of Sustainable Solano’s free certification sessions to participate in an internship. Certification sessions are offered in-person and online.
During certification, students will participate in Pachamama Alliance’s Awakening the Dreamer course and reflect on their vision for the world through a collage-art project, explore One Planet Living principles as a sustainability framework and approach to shaping personal action plans, and learn how to research environmental challenges within their communities.
Online internships are done in two parts. Participants must attend both sessions and there is independent work that needs to be done before each meeting.
Want to participate in a certification session but have a schedule conflict? Reach out to Allison Nagel at allison@sustainablesolano.org
Learn More
Re-envisioning Fairfield’s Streets: Youth Air Protectors Present Final Projects Aug. 27
We invite you to join us for the Fairfield Youth Air Protectors’ final project presentations at the Fairfield Civic Center Library (1150 Kentucky St.) from 12:30-2 pm Sunday, Aug. 27.
Fellowship Focuses on Environmental Justice, Supports Pollinators in Vacaville
As part of Sustainable Solano’s Environmental Justice Leadership Fellowship, seven students from multiple Solano County cities undertook a research and green infrastructure project in Vacaville. Students focused on the Markham neighborhood, a community grappling with several environmental challenges, and explored possible solutions, including walkability, available green spaces, and usable wildlife habitats.
Sustainable Gardening Intern Reflections
The Sustainable Gardening internship was an opportunity for high school students to learn basic permaculture principles with a focus on waterwise gardening, and engage with community members while supporting community gardens. These three interns shared their reflections on the program with us, and we are excited to share them with you here with their permission.